Read: Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 101:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8
Isaac’s servant had found what he had come for and wanted to take her home. Rebekah’s parents wanted her to stay a week, but Rebekah agreed to leave then. Isaac met Rebekah in the field and it was love at first sight. Rebekah was a great comfort to Isaac after losing his mother. Sarah.
Abraham remarried Keturah and had six sons and seven grandsons. Abraham sent these descendants away to live in the east. He gave them gifts but his inheritance and all that he had went to Isaac. Abraham lived 75 years after Isaac was born. He was buried in the land where Sarah was buried. He was “gathered to his people” which means that he lived in Sheol with his family. Where you were buried in the Old Testament was where you spent your time waiting for Jesus to resurrect you if you had faith in God.
Ishmael had twelve sons and they all lived around Egypt. They lived in hostility towards themselves and still do.
Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah but she was barren. Isaac prayed for 20 years, and God opened her womb. They had twins: Esau and Jacob. When they were still in her womb, they fought so much she asked God about it. He told her that there were two nations in her but the younger one would be stronger and rule over the older.
Esau, the older was red, hairy and a hunter. He was Isaac’s favorite. Jacob was quiet and stayed among the tents and was Rebekah’s favorite. Rebekah must have told Jacob what God had told her because together they made sure it happened.
Esau came in hungry as a bear from hunting and Jacob had a nice pot of stew waiting. He bargained Esau’s birthright for the stew. Esau, who saw no importance in his birthright, sold it for stew. Jacob, knew the importance of the birthright and did everything he could to get it. God loved the heart of Jacob more than the heart of Esau. God wants us to know our birthright and our identity and be willing to go after it. Our enemy is the devil who thinks it is rightfully his. It is ours, but we have to take it.
A famine came to the land. Usually they would go to Egypt when a famine came. God told Isaac to stay in the land so he went to the Philistines for help. Isaac did what his father had done and told Rebekah to tell them she was his sister. The king found out he was her husband and rebuked him. Abimelech made it a law to not touch Rebekah. Isaac planted crops…in a famine and reaped 100 fold. That is a miracle in perfect conditions but impossible during a famine. It got the attention of Abimelech who could not help but see God’s favor on him. When his men fought over every well Isaac’s men dug, they finally gave up. Everything Isaac did prospered. Abimelech finally had to ask Isaac to leave because he was afraid he would take over his kingdom.
In Matthew, two men came to Jesus wanting to follow him. The first was a religious leader, no doubt very wealthy. Jesus told him that it would cost him everything to follow him. The second was a man with a dying father. He wanted to wait till his father had died before he could do the things that Jesus was telling him to do like preach the gospel. Jesus’ answer meant that you will always have excuses but none will be good enough. You can preach the gospel and follow him no matter what your situation is.
As Jesus and his disciples were crossing the sea, a huge storm arose. It scared the disciples, but Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and it calmed. Jesus saw that the devil was doing everything he could to keep them from reaching the other side where he ruled in this man of the Gadarenes. This man housed the principality ruling the area. Once they cast out the demons from him, the whole region could be reached for the gospel.
Demons have to live in something living to be able to function. They begged to go in the pigs since they knew Jesus wouldn’t allow them to enter a person. The pigs ran off a cliff! That was the spirit of violence that was in the man.
Lord, help us to go after our inheritance in You and stop at nothing to get it. It is worth everything to live in your kingdom.
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